CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It's back on the road for Akron and Cleveland State tonight, with the Zips, in particular, facing a daunting challenge.

Cleveland State (11-9, 3-3) has its issues as well, considering the Vikings remain shorthanded traveling to play Illinois-Chicago (5-14, 0-5), a team coming off a near upset over Horizon League leader Green Bay before losing, 69-64. Instead, the Flames are sitting on an eight-game losing streak.

The Vikings, who expect 6-8 sophomore Anton Grady back from concussion, are either half-empty or half full, going into the 8 p.m. contest as 6-4 junior guard Sebastian Douglas also has a concussion and is not expected back until possibly Saturday's home game vs. Valparaiso. Grady and Douglas suffered concussions in practice last Wednesday and have missed the last two games.

One huge plus is the return of Grady. While he is only averaging 10.3 points and 5.9 rebounds a game on the season, Grady has averaged 13.2 points and 9.5 rebounds in his four Horizon League games.

CSU's biggest challenge against the Flames will be containing 6-5 senior Kelsey Barlow, who is averaging 15.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game.

Akron's Zips (11-6, 3-1) have no such injury issues as they take to the road in Mid-American Conference play at Eastern Michigan (11-6, 3-1). But they are coming off a home loss to the new league power, Toledo, and face three of the next four games on the road.

Getting more inside production from 6-11 sophomore Pat Forsythe (5.7 points) and 6-10 freshman Isaiah Johnson (3.9) will help take some of the focus off the Zips ongoing backcourt woes. That will be particularly important vs. EMU's 7-0 senior Da'Shonte Riley, 6-8 senior Glenn Bryant and 6-7 Karrington Ward.

The Eagles are considered the biggest threat to Toledo ultimately winning the MAC regular season title, and only have a road loss at Buffalo to date. No disgrace there. But if the Eagles, who are as long and athletically talented as the Zips along the baseline, can take down Akron it would send a huge message around the league.

This is also the first of three consecutive home games for second-year EMU coach Rob Murphy followed by games vs. Ohio University and Bowling Green.

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